Trophy and adapter part therefor

ABSTRACT

A trophy-includes a first trophy part, a second trophy part, and a coupling that enables the first trophy part and the second trophy part to be coupled to each other. The coupling comprises a rapid-action coupling which lacks a screw thread. The coupling further comprises a screw thread connection that enables the first trophy part and the second trophy part to be coupled to each other. An adapter part is also included for coupling the first trophy part and the second trophy part to each other.

The invention relates to a trophy comprising a first trophy part and asecond trophy part, and a coupling whereby the first trophy part and thesecond trophy part are coupled to each other. the invention furtherrelates to an adapter part whereby the first trophy part and the secondtrophy part can be coupled to each other.

A trophy is traditionally assembled from a base and one or more trophyparts connected thereto, which are mutually connected with a screwthread connection. Although successive trophy parts can in each case bemutually connected using separate screw thread connections, in suchsituations a construction is often opted for wherein a rod provided withscrew thread extends through a number of successive trophy parts.

The conservative trophy market is very attached to such screw threadconnections which, in addition to the advantage of providing a veryreliable connection, also have several significant drawbacks. A veryimportant drawback is that such screw thread connections arelabour-intensive. During assembly a nut is twisted onto a rod providedwith screw thread, usually a bolt, until this nut clamps the differentparts of the trophy relative to each other. Fastening of the nut createsa relative rotation force between the trophy parts, which may displacethe trophy parts relative to each other. The relative orientation ofsuccessive trophy parts is generally critical, especially when acontinuous decoration or print is present.

The American patent applications US-A1-2010/129574 and US-A1-2011/183150both disclose a trophy wherein a rapid-action coupling is fixed with ascrew thread connection (bolt-nut connection) to a first trophy part.The rapid-action coupling couples the first trophy part to a secondtrophy part, making a conventional connection with a rod provided withscrew thread unnecessary. According to US-A1-2011/183150, it is possibleowing to the lack of a continuous rod to give a trophy part a wholly orpartially transparent form.

US-A1-2010/129574 forms the closest prior art, and at least the measuresof the characterizing part of claim 1 are new relative to this document.

The invention now has for its object to provide a trophy of the abovedescribed type, wherein said drawbacks do not occur, or at least do soto lesser extent.

Said object is achieved according to the invention with the trophy andthe adapter part according to the independent claims. Preferredembodiments of the invention form the subject of the dependent claims.

The trophy according to the invention comprises: a first trophy part, asecond trophy part, a coupling whereby the first trophy part and thesecond trophy part can be coupled to each other, wherein the couplingcomprises a rapid-action coupling which lacks a screw thread, andwherein the coupling further comprises a screw thread connection wherebythe first trophy part and the second trophy part can be coupled to eachother.

The trophy thus comprises a coupling whereby the first trophy part andthe second trophy part can be coupled to each other, wherein thecoupling comprises on the one hand a rapid-action coupling which lacks ascrew thread and the coupling on the other hand further comprises ascrew thread connection whereby the first trophy part and the secondtrophy part can be coupled to each other. The screw thread connectionforms part of the coupling between the first trophy part and the secondtrophy part and thus forms an additional coupling to the rapid-actioncoupling.

Because the trophy additionally comprises a conventional screw threadconnection, this can if desired be utilized in addition to therapid-action coupling to couple the first and the second trophy part.The first trophy part and/or the second trophy part can further beprovided with a screw thread on which can engage a nut which isconfigured to function as locking nut for the rapid-action coupling. Ifa conventional screw thread connection is present, a user can thereby ofcourse connect the first trophy part and the second trophy part asdesired. The trophy parts can for instance be connected to aconventional base, which is not configured to engage with a rapid-actioncoupling according to the invention.

The invention provides on the one hand a rapid-action coupling whereby adesired relative orientation of the trophy parts can be ensured, so thata continuous print can for instance be aligned over multiple trophyparts. The relative orientation of successive trophy parts is generallycritical, especially when a continuous decoration or print is present.

The screw thread connection, for instance in the embodiment of abolt-nut connection, provides on the other hand an additional locking ofthe trophy. The rapid-action coupling in turn prevents a relativerotation force, which is created between the trophy parts duringtightening of the nut, from being able to displace the trophy partsrelative to each other.

In contrast to the prior art, a rapid-action coupling and a conventionalscrew thread connection can be applied simultaneously in the trophyaccording to the invention. This provides for respectively a good mutualalignment of the trophy parts and a reliable mutual connection betweenthe trophy parts. The trophy parts can be coupled both by therapid-action coupling and by the screw thread connection, whichguarantees a dependable coupling. The screw thread connection then formsas it were a locking for the rapid-action coupling.

The coupling comprises both a rapid-action coupling and a screw threadconnection whereby the first trophy part and the second trophy part canbe coupled. It is noted that, although the two can be appliedsimultaneously, as elucidated above, this is of course not alwaysnecessary. Both types of coupling, i.e. rapid-action coupling and screwthread connection, are however always available. During assembly thetrophy according to the invention gives the user multiple options foreffecting a coupling between the first trophy part and the second trophypart:

-   -   simultaneously applying a rapid-action coupling and a screw        thread connection;    -   applying only a rapid-action coupling, wherein the screw thread        connection is present but unused; and    -   applying only the screw thread connection, wherein the        rapid-action coupling is present but unused.

The above stated penultimate and final options of respectively leavingthe screw thread connection or the rapid-action coupling unused alsomake it possible to combine the trophy parts with conventional trophyparts as desired. It is thus possible to envisage a trophy beingconstructed wherein only one of the first trophy part and the secondtrophy part is provided with a rapid-action coupling, and this iscombined with a conventional part which lacks a correspondingrapid-action coupling. In this case a user is free to couple the firsttrophy part and the second trophy part with the likewise present screwthread connection.

According to a preferred embodiment, the second trophy part, which alsoforms the superstructure, comprises the screw thread connection. Byproviding figurines, as superstructure, with a rapid-action coupling anda screw thread connection they can be coupled both to a conventionalbase and to a base provided with a corresponding rapid-action coupling.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are further elucidated inthe following description with reference to the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a trophy according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the trophy according to FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective bottom view of a second trophy part of thetrophy shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views of respectively an exploded and anassembled state of a second trophy part with an adapter according to afirst preferred embodiment of the adapter; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views of respectively an exploded and anassembled state of a second trophy part with an adapter according to asecond preferred embodiment of the adapter; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective views of an assembled and exploded stateof a trophy according to a further preferred embodiment, wherein acoupling part of the rapid-action coupling can be fixed to the first andto the second trophy part using an arresting element;

FIGS. 10 and 11 show an assembled and exploded state of a trophy part(dish part) with an arresting element according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 12 shows an exploded state of a trophy part (dish part) with anarresting element according to a second embodiment; and

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view in which a coupling part of therapid-action coupling can be fixed to a first trophy part using anarresting element.

Trophy 1 comprises a first trophy part 10 and a second trophy part 20,wherein first trophy part 10 forms in the shown embodiment a base 12 andsecond trophy part 20 forms a superstructure 22. For a sporting trophy,superstructure 22 can depict for instance a number, a player, acharacteristic of a game, or another figure. Trophy 1 further comprisesa rapid-action coupling 30 whereby first trophy part 10, i.e. base 12,and second trophy part 20, i.e. superstructure 22, can be mutuallycoupled. Applying a rapid-action coupling 30 makes assembly of such atrophy 1 less labour-intensive than when the different trophy parts 10,20 are mutually connected using a screw thread connection.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 second trophy part 20 is assembledfrom a foot part 26 and one superstructure part 24. It is howeverlikewise possible to envisage that in a further preferred embodiment(not shown) second trophy part 10 comprises at least two superstructureparts 24 in addition to a foot part 26, wherein provided betweensuperstructure parts 24 is a further rapid-action coupling (not shown)whereby superstructure parts 24 can be coupled. It is noted that such afurther rapid-action coupling can be constructed in the same way asrapid-action coupling 30.

Although rapid-action coupling 30 and/or the further rapid-actioncoupling itself lacks a screw thread, first trophy part 10 and/or secondtrophy part 20 can further be provided with a (conventional) screwthread 4 on which a nut 6 can engage. Screw thread 4 can for instanceform part of a bolt. Such a bolt can be received in a slot 48. Byproviding a rib 50 a chamber can be formed in which a head of a bolt canbe received, wherein the form of the chamber preferably preventsrotation of the bolt head in this chamber.

Nut 6 can be employed as locking nut for rapid-action coupling 30 incases where the user requires an extra reliable connection. Screw thread4 is in that case engaged by a nut 6 of a coupling part lying opposite.The (conventional) screw thread 4 can also be used when a connection hasto be effected to a conventional base which lacks measures for co-actionwith rapid-action coupling 30 according to the invention.

If a (conventional) screw thread 4 is provided in addition torapid-action coupling 30, rapid-action coupling 30 and/or the furtherrapid-action coupling and screw thread 4 are arranged substantiallyconcentrically relative to each other.

According to a preferred embodiment, rapid-action coupling 30 and/or thefurther rapid-action coupling (not shown) comprises two co-actingcoupling parts 34, 44, wherein a first coupling part 34 corresponds tofirst trophy part 10 and wherein a second coupling part 44 correspondsto second trophy part 20.

In an assembled state of trophy 1, as shown in FIG. 1, the two co-actingcoupling parts 34, 44 are brought into a coupling position by a relativerotation. A stop 38 is provided which limits the relative rotation ofthe two co-acting coupling parts 34, 44 in the coupling position, thisensuring a desired alignment of the different trophy parts 10, 20 (FIG.2). In such a case nut 6 can if desired be employed as locking nut forrapid-action coupling 30, and the screw connection preferably has ascrew thread which produces a rotation force in the direction of stop 38during tightening, so that the coupling position remains secured duringtightening of nut 6.

In the shown embodiment the rapid-action coupling comprises a bayonetclosure 32. A bayonet closure 32 can be assembled in very simple andrapid manner and can likewise provide a desired alignment. Such abayonet closure can likewise be applied for the further rapid-actioncoupling (not shown).

First coupling part 34 comprises a recess 36 and the second couplingpart comprises one or more than one protruding part 46 which engageswith recess 36 of first coupling part 34. A contact surface 40 of recess36 of first coupling part 34 with the one or more than one protrudingpart 46 of second coupling part 44 is provided with a protrusion 42,wherein the orientation of the two co-acting coupling parts 34, 44 inthe coupling position is preserved.

According to the first preferred embodiment, the rapid-action couplingand/or the further rapid-action coupling are manufactured from plastic,and are preferably injection-moulded parts.

In the shown embodiment rapid-action coupling 30 is integrated withfirst trophy part 10 and with second trophy part 20. The furtherrapid-action coupling (not shown) can be integrated with at least twosuperstructure parts of second trophy part 20.

FIGS. 4-7 show two embodiments of an adapter part 60, 70. Such adapterparts 60, 70 enable a rapid-action coupling 30 according to theinvention to be applied with already existing second trophy parts 20.This means that the current moulds can continue to be used and that itis not per se necessary to make a new mould in order to enableapplication of a rapid-action coupling 30 according to the invention.Rapid-action coupling 30 and/or the further rapid-action coupling (notshown) can thus be provided with an adapter part 60, 70 which isindependent of first trophy part 10 and second trophy part 20, andwherein adapter part 60, 70 engages with screw thread 4 of first trophypart 10 and/or second trophy part 20.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a preferred embodiment of an annular adapter part 60which is provided with a recess 62 whereby it is displaceable over screwthread 4. If according to a preferred embodiment the inner diameter ofrecess 62 is slightly greater than the outer diameter of screw thread 4,annular adapter part 60 can be slid over screw thread 4 in longitudinaldirection. Sliding arrangement in this manner is less labour-intensivethan if annular adapter part 60 were to be screwed over screw thread 4,which can of course also be possible according to an alternativeembodiment. By providing resilient slats 64, which extend inward fromthe inner diameter of recess 62 and into the pitch of screw thread 4, anaxial locking can be obtained which prevents an undesired axialdisplacement of adapter part 60 along screw thread 4.

In the shown embodiment annular adapter part 60 is provided with twoprotruding parts 66 which can fulfil the function of the protrudingparts 46 of first coupling part 34 of rapid-action coupling 30.

A relative rotation between adapter part 60 and second trophy part 20 isprevented in that adapter part 60 is provided with a rotation limitingprotrusion 68, which in assembled state (FIG. 5) engages with recess 48.This ensures the orientation of protruding parts 66 relative to secondtrophy part 20.

According to a further preferred embodiment, a horseshoe-shaped adapterpart 70 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 can be applied instead of the annularadapter part 60 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The horseshoe-shaped adapterpart 70 is distinguished from annular adapter part 60 by the presence ofa slot 72. Because this slot 72 extends in radial direction from theperipheral wall and to drilled hole 62, horseshoe-shaped adapter part 70can be slid over screw thread 4 in radial direction. The legs of thehorseshoe shape are preferably resilient to some extent, and clamp screwthread 4. The slats arranged in drilled hole 62 prevent an axial shiftof the adapter part along screw thread 4. The other measures ofhorseshoe-shaped adapter part 70 are identical to annular adapter part60, as a result of which the description thereof is not repeated here.

The protruding parts 46, 66 of rapid-action coupling 30 canalternatively (not shown) be distributed non-uniformly over theperiphery, which makes the coupling between first trophy part 10 andsecond trophy part 20 possible in only a single position, this securinga desired relative orientation of these trophy parts 10, 20.

According to further embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 8-13, a couplingpart 34, 44 of rapid-action coupling 30 can be fixed to first trophypart 10 or second trophy part 20 using an arresting element 76. Arapid-action coupling 30, such as a bayonet closure 32, consists of twoco-acting coupling parts 34, 44. In FIGS. 1-7 these coupling parts 34,44 of rapid-action coupling 30 are in each case shown integrated with atrophy part 10, 20. Arranging a coupling part 34, 44 of rapid-actioncoupling 30 on a trophy part 10, 20 using an arresting element 76 makesit possible to also equip conventional trophy parts with a coupling part34, 44 of a rapid-action coupling 30.

The fact that conventional trophy parts can also be equipped with acoupling part 34, 44 of a rapid-action coupling 30 has significantadvantages. Existing stocks of trophy parts can thus be provided with acoupling part 34, 44, for instance in a transitional stage, so that theycan be constructed into a trophy 1 using a rapid-action coupling 30according to the invention. In addition, existing moulds and injectionmoulds need not be replaced.

A further advantage is that a trophy part 10, 20 of a material which isdifficult to process can also be provided with a coupling part 34, 44 ofa rapid-action coupling 30 in simple manner. The choice is thus oftenmade, particularly for the European market, to embody base 12 from ahard material which is difficult process, including types of rock suchas marble or granite. A base 12 of glass or wood is also possible. Byfixing a coupling part 34, 44 of a rapid-action coupling 30 theretousing an arresting element 76, trophy parts of such materials which aredifficult process can also be used for a trophy 1 according to theinvention which can be constructed in rapid and comfortable manner.

In the shown embodiment first trophy part 10 or second trophy part 20comprises a recess, more preferably a drilled hole 14, 28, in which orthrough which the coupling part 34, 44 of rapid-action coupling 30 canbe fixed to first trophy part 10 or second trophy part 20.

First trophy part 10 and/or second trophy part 20 can be (optionallypartially) manufactured from a non-synthetic material. First trophy part10 and/or second trophy part 20 can thus be manufactured from a materialfrom the group comprising: rock, glass, wood, metal and resin. In thecase of types of rock, first trophy part 10 and/or second trophy part 20is preferably manufactured from a type of rock from the groupcomprising: marble, granite and bluestone. These types of rock can ifdesired be used in a composite with resin, for instance a marble/resincomposite.

Second trophy part 20 can be assembled from a foot part 26, a firstsuperstructure part in the form of a figurine part 24 and a dish 27(FIGS. 8 and 9). Such dishes 27 can be manufactured from a metal,wherein a coupling part 44 of rapid-action coupling 30 can be fixed todish 27 with an arresting element 76, through a drilled hole 28 in metaldish 27. A first embodiment is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, while FIG. 12shows a second embodiment.

In FIGS. 10 and 11 a resilient cap 78 is inserted through drilled hole28 as arresting element 76. This cap 78, which can for instance bemanufactured from rubber, is clamped in second coupling part 44 andclamps metal dish 27 between cap 78 and second coupling part 44. Becauseof the elasticity of cap 78 it closes drilled hole 28, this making dish27 optionally suitable for drinking from.

According to the alternative embodiment of FIG. 13, the arrestingelement is a bolt provided with screw thread and second coupling part 44is provided with a corresponding internal screw thread.

First trophy part 10 can for instance be a base 12 manufactured frommarble and provided with a drilled hole 14. A coupling part 34 ofrapid-action coupling 30 can be fixed to base 12 through this drilledhole 14 using an arresting element 76 (FIG. 13).

In FIG. 13 coupling part 34 comprises a bushing 84 which can be arrangedin drilled hole 14 of base 12, wherein bushing 84 is provided at a firstouter end with a flange 86 whereby coupling part 34 can be arrangedagainst a wall 16 of base 12. Rapid-action coupling 30 can engage on theside of flange 86 remote from bushing 84. Bushing 84 is provided at orclose to an outer end lying opposite flange 86 with a clamp 88 withwhich base 12 can be clamped between clamp 88 and flange 86.

It is possible to envisage bushing 84 being provided at or close to theouter end lying opposite flange 86 with an external screw thread onwhich a nut 90 can engage as clamp 88. Tightening of nut 90 clamps base12 between nut 90 and flange 86.

Although they show preferred embodiments of the invention, the abovedescribed embodiments are intended solely for the purpose ofillustrating the present invention and not to limit the scope of theinvention in any way. When measures in the claims are followed byreference numerals, such reference numerals serve only to contributetoward understanding of the claims, but are in no way limitative of thescope of protection. It is particularly noted that the skilled personcan combine technical measures of the different embodiments. The rightsdescribed are defined by the following claims, within the scope of whichmany modifications can be envisaged.

1-27. (canceled)
 28. A trophy, comprising: a first trophy part; a secondtrophy part; and a coupling whereby the first trophy part and the secondtrophy part can be coupled to each other; and wherein the couplingcomprises a screw thread connection whereby the first trophy part andthe second trophy part can be coupled to each other; and wherein thecoupling further comprises a rapid-action coupling which lacks a screwthread, and wherein each of the screw thread connection and therapid-action coupling is configured to be activated with or without theother of the screw thread connection and the rapid action coupling. 29.The trophy according to claim 28, wherein at least one of: (a) the firsttrophy part forms a base, and (b) the second trophy part forms asuperstructure; and wherein the second trophy part comprises the screwthread connection.
 30. The trophy according to claim 28, wherein thesecond trophy part is assembled from a foot part and at least onesuperstructure part.
 31. The trophy according to claim 28, wherein thesecond trophy part is assembled from a foot part and at least twosuperstructure parts, wherein provided between the superstructure partsis a further rapid-action coupling whereby the superstructure parts canbe coupled, wherein the further rapid-action coupling is integrated withthe at least two superstructure parts of the second trophy part.
 32. Thetrophy according to any of claim 31, wherein the further rapid-actioncoupling lacks a screw thread and wherein at least one of the firsttrophy part and the second trophy part is further provided with a screwthread.
 33. The trophy according to claim 32, wherein at least one ofthe rapid-action coupling and the further rapid-action coupling arearranged concentrically relative to the screw thread.
 34. The trophyaccording to claim 33, wherein the screw thread is engaged by a nut of acoupling part.
 35. The trophy according to claim 31, wherein at leastone of the rapid-action coupling and the further rapid-action couplingcomprises two co-acting coupling parts, wherein a first coupling partcorresponds to the first trophy part and wherein a second coupling partcorresponds to the second trophy part; and wherein the two co-actingcoupling parts are brought into a coupling position by a relativerotation and a stop is provided which limits the relative rotation ofthe two co-acting coupling parts in the coupling position.
 36. Thetrophy according to claim 31, wherein at least one of the rapid-actioncoupling and the further rapid-action coupling comprises a bayonetclosure.
 37. The trophy according to claim 36, wherein the firstcoupling part comprises a recess and wherein the second coupling partcomprises at least one protruding part which engages with the recess ofthe first coupling part.
 38. The trophy according to claim 37, wherein acontact surface of the recess of the first coupling part with the atleast one protruding part of the second coupling part is provided with aprotrusion, wherein the orientation of the two co-acting coupling partsin the coupling position is preserved.
 39. The trophy according to claim31, wherein at least one of the rapid-action coupling and the furtherrapid-action coupling is an injection-moulded part.
 40. The trophyaccording to claim 35, wherein at least one of the rapid-action couplingand the further rapid-action coupling comprises an adapter part which isindependent of the first trophy part and the second trophy part, andwherein the adapter part engages with the screw thread of at least oneof the first trophy part the second trophy part; wherein the adapterpart comprises a recess which is configured to enable the adapter partto be arranged laterally over the screw thread.
 41. The trophy accordingto claim 28, wherein a coupling part of the rapid-action coupling isfixable to the first or the second trophy part using an arrestingelement; and wherein the first or second trophy part comprises a recessin which or through which the coupling part of the rapid-action couplingcan be fixed to the first or the second trophy part.
 42. The trophyaccording to claim 28, wherein at least one of the first trophy part andthe second trophy part is manufactured from at least one of: anon-synthetic material; a material from the group including: rock,glass, wood, metal and resin; and a type of rock from the groupincluding: marble, granite and bluestone.
 43. The trophy according toclaim 39, wherein the injection-moulded part is manufactured from aplastic.
 44. The trophy according to claim 41, wherein the recess is adrilled hole.